Loading Photo Galleries ...

1. Scope

Moderate flooding - estimated to be around 4 feet of water - is predicted for the Sparks industrial area and Steamboat Creek Basin, while Reno is expected to receive minor flooding, according to the National Weather Service in Reno.

Truckee is in store for major flooding Sunday, from a storm that began Saturday night, the weather service said. But it doesn't end there. Another big storm is expected to hit the historic California mountain town on Wednesday.

Heavy rains are expected to pound Washoe County sometime after 9 a.m. today, said Reno meteorologist Brian Brong, adding that the Sparks industrial area off Vista Boulevard, south of Steamboat Creek and down to Rosewood Lakes Golf Course will receive the worst of the storm. The foothills area near Storey County could see rain before dawn. Snow is expected in Lake Tahoe by this afternoon.

In Sparks, off of Vista Boulevard, the National Weather Service predicted the Truckee River will exceed flood levels between 1 and 2 p.m, reaching 16.6 feet by 2 p.m. The flood stage is 15 feet. By its peak at 9 p.m., the river will have risen to 18.9 feet, but will decrease to 16.9 feet by 11 p.m.

By 1 a.m. Monday, the weather service said the river will be below flood stage at 14.4 feet, and by 4 a.m., will be at 12.8 feet, below flood monitoring level of 13 feet.

In Reno, the river will exceed the 11-foot flood stage at about 3 p.m., reaching 11.2 feet, the weather service predicted. By 4 p.m., it will decrease, but still be hovering right at flood stage level at 10.9 feet. By 10 p.m., the river will be at 8.9 feet, below flood monitoring level of 9 feet.

2. Evacuation locations

RESIDENTS AND SMALL ANIMALS: Sparks High School has been designated the emergency evacuation center for residents, and Washoe County Regional Animal Services will also be housed there. It will open up for evacuations at noon. Truckee residents can evacuate to the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District Administrative Office, 11603 Donner Pass Road in Truckee. It will open at 6 a.m. Sunday. Truckee center details: 855-212-1866.

LARGE ANIMALS: Flooding is possible in the Pleasant Valley area, and livestock there and elsewhere can be evacuated to the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday. Animal Services staff will be present.

3. Closures and road travel

SPARKS: Sparks closed Kleppe Lane between Franklin Way and Greg Street on Saturday to construct a flood levee. Other Sparks closures will begin at 8 a.m. Sunday, and access to the Sparks Industrial Area will end completely at 10 a.m. Roads closing will include Rock, Vista and Sparks boulevards at Interstate 80; the Galletti Way-Kietzke Lane intersection; and the McCarran Boulevard-Nugget Avenue intersection.

Authorities also want residents to stay off of roads in general if possible to avoid traffic incidents that could take authorities away from flood public safety efforts.

4. Web and phone flood resources

Log on to RGJ.com/flood for updates, photos, videos, and resources relating to the flood threat. On Twitter, follow #NVFlood, #nnvstorm, and @RGJ.

For safety tips, local sandbag locations and weather forecasts, visit www.floodawareness.com. The site is sponsored by the Truckee River Flood Project and will updated throughout the weekend with any new developments.

Flood information is also available by calling 211. Only use 911 for emergencies.

In Truckee, get instant updates from the police department at www.townoftruckee.com.

Get Storey County flood information at www.storeycounty.org or 775-847-INFO (4636).

To obtain cellphone alerts about emergency situations, sign up at www.ReadyWashoe.com.

5. Flights and wind

High winds in Washoe County will also be a weather factor this morning. The Reno-Tahoe International Airport on Saturday said high winds had already canceled or delayed at least a half-dozen flights to or from Reno. More delays could occur today, depending on the wind, airport officials said, adding that travelers should monitor individual airlines' Web sites for cancellations.